The Opelousas courier., 1887-11-26
PLAQUEMlNES PARISH.
Meeting of the Executive Committee
The Methods Adopted by the Re-
formers to Secure q Majority-Their

Meeting of the Executive Committee
The Methods Adopted by the Re-
formers to Secure q Majority-Their
Po1NTE-A-LA-HAcHE, Nov. "a, 1887.
The parish executive committee of Plaque
mines parish metz at Poine-a-la-Haehe on
Wednesday, Nov. 20. and ordered an election
of twenty-six delegates to a parish conven-
ton, to be held in the parish at large on Dec.
8. This unusual proceeding was p~refaced by
an announcement from the spokesman of the
reformers, the United States naval officer,
Mr.. Fl. P. Kernochan, that the committee, at
least eight out of the fifteen, had determined
to carry out a plan of election to enable them
to deliver the vote of the parish to the candi-
dacy Of Gov. Nichols. A majority of one OF
the committee was obtainedby the reformers
by sending to Avoyelles parish and bringing
back a young man, an eT.member OF the
committee. who had moved to that parish to
permanently reside there.
A few days ago the father of the ex-mem.
the ward that his son had left this parish to
reside permanently in the parish of Avoy-
Giles. and advising them to elect a delegate
to fill the vacancy in the committee. This
letter, accompanied by q petition from the
citizens of the ward that an election be or
dered in the ward to I'LL the existing acancy,
was taken to the president Of the committee.
Dr.. Geo. A. B: Hays. The president peremp-
torily refused to order such election: then
the petition was taken to the secretary, who
ordered the election in compliance with the
wishes OF the. people. The election WAS held:
but by the arbitrary rul1ng OF the chairman
of the committee, sustained, among others,
by the illegal vote Of the ex-member who had
removed to Ayoyelles, the elected delegate
was denied admission.
The proceeding was roundly denounced on
Il the fnpr of tho npynniffan Jnpaf1n o. and the
delegate from Avoyelles was openly charged
with having sold his vote. After a mild de-
maId for proof from the accused Mr.. John
Dymond drew from his pocket a series Of
| resolutions providing for a parish election at
large. The substitute offered by the minor
lty, providing for ward primaries, was voted
downs to z.
The sentiment Of the large number of
spectators was strongly adverse to the arbi-
trary action OF a majority Of the committee.
After the adjournment of the committee. the
p&sHsple assembled in mass meeting and adopt
| col resolutions strongly denouncing the
III pans used TO SECURE the presence Of the ex-
! ornher who had removed to Ayoyelies. In
] stAtion thsafollowing preamble and resolu-
) ssgshereas. the cisizar4 of the ward which he
,1l1Ined to represent had met together with all
ruling IF the chairman of the committee, DR..
Be It Rescued, That we denounce the whole
transaction, as deserving of the condemnation of
all honorable men.
We further danounee as undemocratic the re-
fusal to allow the wards a representation based
on the highest vote cast at either the last State
or national essstion. and the resort to the unu-
sual pfactice-and oae previously unknown in
this parasitic have aH thaaelegates pat on our
ticket irrespective OF wards. and not elected as
ward representatives in the wards to which they
belonged, as has been customary in the nast-a
proceeding acknowledge in the committee by
in the interest d$ the candidacy of Francis T.
Nichols for Governor. and. while d~enouncing as
Ro-F7T nsrfsgpn and nv fT1ef THAR action and
the undenocratic method of selecting delegates
to the coming Parish Convention, we neverthe-
will meet them on their own ground and at the
hands of thefa1assesGbf the Democratic voters of
this parish, who cannot be bribed or bought,
give an overwhelming rebuke to their corrupt
methods even when covered by the fimsy gauze
PIERRE CASSIE, President.
LEONARD ARROYO, Secretary. ~